In a significant development, the Congress-led Karnataka government has extended an official invitation to business tycoon Elon Musk, urging him to set up businesses, including Tesla and Starlink, in the southern state of India. The invitation comes as Karnataka's Minister for Commerce and Industries, Infrastructure MB Patil, took to Twitter to express Karnataka's readiness to support and provide necessary facilities for Elon Musk's ventures, tagging his Twitter handle.
Mr. Patil described Karnataka as the "ideal destination" for Tesla's expansion into India, citing the state's immense potential and capabilities. As a progressive state and a thriving hub of innovation and technology, Karnataka aims to become the focal point for technology and manufacturing 5.0, propelling the state into the future, according to media reports.
This invitation coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing State visit to the US, during which he met with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. PM Modi seized the opportunity to discuss investment opportunities in electric mobility and the rapidly expanding commercial space sector in India.
Following the meeting, Elon Musk expressed his excitement about India's future prospects and stated that India held more promise than any other large country in the world. He revealed his tentative plans to visit India again next year, emphasizing his commitment to exploring opportunities in the country.
Responding to questions from reporters, Elon Musk confidently affirmed his intention to bring Tesla to India "as soon as humanly possible." He expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his support and hinted at a significant investment in India in the near future, without providing specific details.
Moreover, Elon Musk expressed interest in introducing his Starlink services to India. Starlink, a satellite-based internet services provider operated by SpaceX, aligns with India's vision of inviting private players into the space sector and leveraging its potential.
The announcement of Karnataka's invitation and Elon Musk's positive response have created an air of anticipation regarding Tesla's entry into the Indian market. It is expected that Tesla will announce the location of its new factory by the end of 2023, thereby marking a significant milestone in India's electric mobility journey.
